Searchlight



July 1 1924. j 1,499,651

. s. GREBEL SEARGHLIGHT Filed 001.. 11, 1922 s Shets-Sheet 1 7 M [wenfona "M" M p l 1,499,651 5. GREBEL SEARCHLIGHT July 1 1924.

Filed Oct. 11, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 72/ 4 1 wA A A July 1 1924.

S. GREBEL SEARCHLIGHT Filed Oct. 11, 1922 Patented July l, 1924.

STEPHEN GBEBEL, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

SEARCHLIGHT.

Application filed October 11, 1922. SeriaINo. 593,752.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it khown that I, STEPHEN GREBEL, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Avenue Mac Mahon 3, Paris 16, France, have invented certain new and useful Im= provements in' Searchlights, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of the present invention is to provide head lights which in their application to the illumination of roads by automobiles respond to the respective regulations of most of the principal countries.

The present invention consists in improvements to head lights in which the lamp is arranged in the axis of the search light and is carried in a support situated in front of the lamp, and the lamp pointing towards the rear of the head light and towards a reflector preferably of parabolic shape.

According to thepresent invention means are provided in head lights of the above mentioned type to limit the illumination to parts below the axis of the head light.

Another feature of the invention are the means to support the lamp and which serve at the same time to carry two spare lamps which are thus stored within the head light. Further means are provided by which the lamp can be adjusted axially, laterally and angularly relatively to the reflector. and to other fixed parts of the head light. Other features will be pointed out hereinafter when describing a constructional example of a head light according to the present invention which is illustrated in the accompany ing drawings, which represent a head light for an automobile.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the head light, illustrating some portions of the head light in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on an enlarged.

scale through the means fonholding the lamp and for supplying the current.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the head light with the hinge and latch shown at the sides. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic section on a smaller scale through the head light in which the trajectories of the rays are indicated.

Fig. 5 is a plan view on a smaller scale of the light in which the single parts of the latter that are connected together by hinged joints are turned in their joints into different angular positions.

Fig. 6 is a section through a preferred type of contact plug on an enlarged scale. I

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings 1 denotes the bowl shaped casing of the lamp to which a cover 2 is hinged at 3. Diametrically opposite to the hinged joint there are the means of securing the cover 2 to'the casing 1 consisting of a milled screw 4 screwed into a strengthening part 5 of the cover. The milled head is provided with a circular groove 6 confined by walls inclined against each other. A pin 7, having a conical head, is fixed to the casing and is adapted to enter into the circular groove when the milled screw is screwed in. Owing to the shape of the walls confining the groove a considerable lateral force is efi'ected when the milled screw is tightened whereby the cover is pressed against the casing and securely held in position.

A ring shaped member 8 is rigidly fixed to the cover 2 and is rovided with a plurality of stamped portions 9 defining grooves that extend at their beginning in the'axial direction and then in a substantially circumferential direction thus forming grooves (Fig. 5) adapted to act as parts of bayonet joints. A ring 10 is inserted into the ring shaped member 8 and is'provided with a plurality of projections 11 cooperating with said grooves. The outer edge of the ring 10 bears-against the edge of the curved glass 12 to which the wall 2 of thecover acts as frame, a pneumatic packing 13 being in serted between the glass and the walls 2 of the cover. When the ring 10 is pushed in the axial direction into the ring shaped member 8 so that the projections 11 cooperate with the grooves 9 and is then turned relatively to the ring 8 the glass 12 is firmly held in the cover.

The lamp 14, an electric bulb, is arranged in the axis of the head light and points towards the rear of the latter. The lamp 14 is held in position by the following means: A ring shaped member 15 is connected by a hinged joint 16 to a ring member 17 rigidly secured to the casing 1. To the ring 15 there is rigidly fixed a plate 18 extending up to the horizontal plane and shaped to correspond to the curved pane of glass 1 12. In its portion adjacent to the axis of tegral. An annular part 21 is mounted in the ring 20 and secured in position by a ring nut 22. A. sleeve 23 is guided in the bore of the annular part 21, the front end of the sleeve 23 being; internally and caternally threaded and the rear end being prothread on vided with a flange 24.. Three hollow pistons 25 equally pitched are lined to the sleeve 23 and are adapted to move axially in bores 26 provided in the annular part 21, compression springs 27 being inserted in the hollow pistons 25 and the bores 26 and tend to displace the sleeve 23 in the axial direction towards the hack of the head light. A ring nut 28 cooperates with the external the sleeve 23 and hears with a conical face 29 on a correspondingly shaped face of the annular part 21. Upon a tightening of the nut 28 the sleeve 23 is displaced in the axial direction relatively to the an" nular part 21 towards the front of the light. As the bulb 14 is nondisplaceahly arranged relatively to the sleeve '23, as will appear hereinafter, and the annular part 21 is in a fixed position relatively to the casing the position oil the bulb in the axial direction relatively to the casing can be adjusted by screwing or unscrewing the nut 28. The rear portion 30 of the bore of the part 23 is spherically shaped and against this portion hears the spherical head of a nipple 3]. under the action of the coil-spring 32, the intermediate part 33 and the annular nut 34: meshing with the internal thread of the sleeve part 23. The rear end of the nipple is provided with external thread 35, on which a collar 38 is screwed carrying the outer lamp-holder cover 37 into which the hayonet cap 38 of the lamp 14- is inserted. A set screw 39" serves to fix the collar 36 in position. By a turning movement of the collar 36 the lamp may e adjusted in the angular direction and the spherical nipple 31 permits of an adjustment of the lamp in the lateral direction with regard to the redoctor 39' which is preferably of a paraholic shape and which may'he strengthened ghgiri os 39' Fig. 1. By means oat a proper till ustnient of he lamp relatively t the redoctor it may be attained that no shadows appear in the projected bundle of rays and that an edicient use of the reflector is made. The reflector 39 extends preferably only over the lower halt of the lamp and it is lined to the hinged joint 16 so that it can separately be swung out around that joint (Fig. 5.). The reflector 39 is further held in its operative position by a spring loaded pin 40 having a winged head all. The pin it) is guided in a sleeve 42 tired to a bracket 4.3 which is screwed to the casing 1 and the pin serves to press the ring member 15 as well as the reflector 39 to said bracket and hold it in position.

A further reflector as in the shape or hall neeaear a sphere is provided and projects over the nppe'r'half of the bulb M. A. hall cylindrical part l'i joins onto the spherical rettlector 4:6 and is hinged at 49 to a sleeve 48. The latter is pushed over a sleeve 50 which is rigidly secured to the flange 24; of the annular part 23. The sleeve 50 is provided with at least one longitudinal slot so that it acts in a resilient manner and holds'the sleeve 48 firmly when the latter is pushed over it. A pin 51 is mounted in rackets 52 and 53 on the outer face of the reflector 46 and a coil spring 54 urges the pin 51 in the-downward direction against a catch 55 fined to the sleeve 48. By the en gagement of the pin 51 with the catch 55 the reflector i6 is kept in its operative position. When it is desired for instance to exchange a bulb the reflector i6 is turned in the upward direction about the pivot of the hinged joint as. To accomplish this the pin 51 is first brought out of engagement with the catch 55 by pulling it by means of the knob 56 in the axial direction and compressing thereby the coil spring 54:. The reflector 16 is indicated in its tilted position in dotted lines in F 1. Two slots 46 situated diametrically opposite are provided in the reflector 48 through which the proper adjustment of the reflector l-tl relatively to the lamp can he observed. When the reflector 46 is turned back into its operative position enclosing the upper half of the bulb the pin 51 wipes over the catch 55 and snaps into the position in which it is in engagement with the latter. l'ttays radiating from the filament d5 of the bulb l4 and reflected by the reflectors 4d and 39 are indicated in Fig. t. By the aforementioned means the position of the lamp relatively to the parabolic reflector can he very accurately adjusted.

The hull) la is provided with two filaments i l and 45. Tee filament 45 serves to give the powerful search-light illumination whereas the filament 44 provides for the hulls eye light which, according traffic re lations, as to he switched in when the blinding search light would cause annoyance to the traffic. The different illuminating power is caused by the different resistance inherent to the two filaments. The arrangement of the two filaments presents the turther advantage that if the filament d5 should accidentally loreak the filament 44: can he switched in.

The supporting plate 18 is in its horizontal part provided with two sockets 82 in which two spare bulbs 83 are held and are thus stored within the head light (Figs. 1 and 3).

e The electric current is supplied to the two filaments oi the hulh it in the following manner: The wire 57 is connectedto the con tact cap 38 of the hull and is thereby in direc onnection with the holder cover 3? lid and with the other parts of the lamp supports, i. e. it is grounded. The wire 58 leadmg to the filament 45 is connected to the central contact point 59 of the bayonet cap of the lamp, which bears against the head of the central rod 60. The latter being arranged within an insulating sleeve 61, the end 63 of the conductor 62 being Wound around the outer end of the. rod 60 and supplying the current to the rod 60 and thereby to the Wire 58. The wire 64 supplying current to the filament 44 is connected to the annular contact65 provided at the bottom of the contact cap of the bulb. The contact65 bears against contact springs 66 provided'in a groove of the flange 67. The latter is insulated against the head of the rod 60 by means of a ring 68 and against asleeve shaped organ 69 by means of a disc 70. A sleeve 71 pushed over the insulating sleeve 61 is insulated against the organ 69 by a further sleeve 72 and the sleeve 71 is in contact with the end 73 of the second conductor 74 supplying electric current. Insulating discs 75, 76 and 77 serve to separate electrically the two conductors 62 and 74. These discs are pressed together by means of a nut 78 screwed upon the end of the rod 60 which is threaded for this purpose. A cup-shaped disc 79is interposed between the nut 78 and the disc 75 and insu-' lated by the parts 80 and 81. Tightening the nut 78 causes the discs 7 5, 76 and 77 to be pressed together as the disc 77 bears against a continuation of the sleeves 69. The latter is guided in the bore of the nipple 31 and in the annular space between the bore of the nipple 31 and the restricted part of the sleeve 69 a coil spring is inserted which urges the rod 60 and the other contact parts against the contacts of the bayonet cap 38, whereby the making of an eflicient contact is ensured. The conductors 62 and 74 are insulated and to further protect these conductors steel wire is wound around them. The conductors are each led to a plug contact arranged in the lower part of the casing 1. A plug contact which has shown itself very satisfactorily is illustrated on a larger scale in section in Fig. 6.

84 denotes the outer casing of the plug contact which is soldered to the lower part of the casing 1 (Fig. 1). A bushing 85 of insulating material separates the casing 84 from'an inner sleeve 86 into which the plug 87 is ushed. The latter consists of a pin split ongitudinally and provided with a central bore 88 the lower part 90 of which is I threaded. A coil spring 89 is inserted in the bore. The conductor 91 is fixed to a nip le 92 the upper end of which is provided with screw thread 93 adapted to engage the tapped part 90 of the plug 87. Whenthe nipple plug 87 the 92 is firmly screwed into the es the coil spring 89 is compressed an two halves of the plug 87 to be spread apart whereby a very effective contact between the plug and the plug casing is made. The

plug is securely fixed to the plug casing 84 by a throw over nut 94 engaging with the threaded lower portion 95 of said casin various insulating bushings and rings being providedto isolate the parts supplying current from the casing 84 of the plug, the

conductor 62 leading to the lamp is fixed to the top part 96 which is insulated from the casing 84 by a ring 97 and the conductor 74 is fixed to another plug contact of a similar construction arranged aside of the described plug contact.

The provision of the coil spring ensures that the parts of the split plug are positively spread apart so that the maklng of the contact does not become inefi'ective after the plug has been inserted into the bushing for a number of times.

I claim:

1. A search light particularly for automoblles, comprising in combination. a casing, a cover hinged to said casing, a reflector consisting of the lower half of a paraboloid arranged coaxially to and in the rear part of said casing. alamp arranged in the axis of said reflector and pointing towards the rear part of said casing, a lam supportmg member consisting of a ring sliaped part hinged to said casing, a plate fixed to said ring shaped part and extending overthe upper half of the casing and-acylindrical portion integral with said plate and .coaxially arranged with said casing for supporting the lamp, and a spherical reflector arranged above said lamp and limiting the illumination to the part below the hor'izon-, tal plane of the search light.

2. A search light particularly for automobiles. comprising in combination, a casing, a cover hinged to said casing, a reflector consisting of the lowerhalf of a paraboloid arranged coaxially to and in the rear part of said casing, a lamp arranged in the axis of said reflector and pointing towards the rear part of said casing, a. lamp supporting member consisting of a ring shaped art hinged to said casing. of a plate fixe to said ring shaped part and extending over the upper halfi of the casing and a cylindrical portion integral with said plate and coaxially arranged with said casing, a socket holder in which said lamp is held and 0peratively connected to the cylindrical por tion of said supporting member, a spherical reflector arranged above said lamp and limiting the illumination to the part below the horizontal plane of the search light, said spherical reflector being hinged to said socket holder and'ineans adapted to adjust said socket holder in the axial, lateral and angular direction.

I 3. A search light particularly for autom the ' hinged to drical said ring shaped part and extending over the upper half of the casing and a cylinortion integral with said plate and coaxial y arranged with said casin a socket holder in which said lamp is hel and operative-ly connected to the cylindrical portion of said supporting member, a spherica v reflector arranged above said lamp and limprising a sleeve iting the illumination to the part below the horizontal plane of the search, light, said spherical reflector being hinged to said socket holder, means adapted to adjust said socket holder in the axial direction and comfixed to said cylindrical portion, bores in said sleeves, an annular member guided in said sleeve and provided with istons adapted to be reciprocated in said ores, coil springs inserted in said bores and urging said pistons, a screw nut cooperating with said annular member and adapted to adjust said member and the socket holder operatively connected therewith in the axial direction, and means adapted to adjust the socket holder in the lateral and in the angular direction.

4. A search light particularly for'automobiles, comprising in combinatlon, a casing.

a cover hinged to said casing, a reflectorconsisting of the lower half of a paraboloid arranged coaxially to and in the rear part 0 said casing, a lamp arranged in the axis of said reflector and pointing towards the rear part of said casing, a lamp'supporting member consisting hinged to said casing, of a plate fixed to said ring shaped part and extending over the upper half of the casing and a, cylindrical portion integral with said plate an coaxially arranged with said casing, a socket holder in which said lamp is held and operatively connected to the cylindrical portion of said supporting member, a spherical refiector arranged-above said lamp and limiting the illumination to the part below the horizontal plane of thesearch light, saidspherical reflector being hinged to said socket holder,-means adapted to' adjust said socket holder in the axial direction, a spherical head rigidly fixed to saidsocket holder, a sphericfl seat spherical head and urged against the latter by spring pressure, which spherical joint allows of an adjustment'of the socket holder in the lateral direction, and means adapted to edjust'the socket holder in the angular direction said casing, of a plate .fixed to I her and the socket holder ,spherical holder, a spherical seat cooperating with of a ring shapedpart' cooperating with saidv over the upper half of the casing said plate and coaxially arranged with said casing, a socket holder in which said 1 lamp is held and operatively' connected to the cylindrical portion of said supporting member, a spherical reflector arranged above said lam and limiting the illumination to the part helow the horizontal planeof the search light, said spherical refiector being hinged to said socket holder, means adapted to adjust said socket holder in the axial direction and comprising a sleeve fixed to said cylindrical portion, bores in said sleeve, an annular member guided in said sleeve and provided with pistons adapted to be reciprocated in said bores, coil springs inserted in said bores and urging said pistons, a screw nut cooperating with said annular member adapted to adjust said memoperatively connected therewith in the axial direction, a head rigidly fixed to said socket said spherical head and urged against the latter by spring pressure, which spherical JOIIli? allows of an adjustment of the socket f holder in, the lateral direction, and means adapted to adjust the socket holder in'the angular direction.

6. A search light particularly for automobiles, comprising in combination, a casing, a cover hinged to said casin a re flector consisting of the lower half 0 a paraboloid arranged coaxiall to and in the rear d :part of said casing, an e ectric lamp provided with two filaments one for edecting a powerful light and the other for edectlngan ordinary/illumination, said lamp bein arranged in the axis of said reflector an pointing towards the rear part of said casing, a member consisting of a ring shaped part hinged to said casing, a plate fixed to over said ring shaped part and extendin the upper half of the casing anda-cy indrical portion integral with said plate and coaxially arranged with said" casing for supporting said lamp, arranged above said lamp illumination I zontal plane of the Searchlight, andjmeans in front of said plate for supplying current to either of said filaments.

e limitin the '2, A. searchlight particularly tor'autoa spherical reflector m to the part below" the. ori-:

egan mobiles, comprising in combination, a casing, a cover hinged to said casing, a reflector consisting of the lower half of a paraboloid arranged coaxially to and in the rear part of said casing, an electric lamp provided with two filaments one for efiecting a powerful light and the other for effecting an ordinary illumination, said lamp bein arranged in the axis of said reflector an pointing towards the rear part of said casing, alamp supporting member consisting of a ring shaped part hinged to said casing, of a plate fixed to said ring shaped part and extending over the upper half of the casing and a cylindrical portion integral with said plate and coaxially arranged with said casmg, a spherical reflector adjust-ably arranged above said lamp and limiting the illumination to the part below the horizontal plane of the search light, two plug contacts 111 the casing of the search light, two flexible conductors from said plug contacts to members supporting the lamp, a socket holder with contacts for said electric lamp, and connection passing through the plate between said contacts and said members supporting the lamp.

8. A search light articularly for automobiles, comprising in combination, a casing, a cover hinged to said casing, a reflector consisting of the lower half of a parabolo1d arranged coaxially to and in the rear part of said casing, an electric lamp provided plate fixed to said ring shaped part and extending over the upper half of the casing and a cylindrical portion integral with said plate and coaxially arranged with said casing, a spherical reflector arranged above said lamp and limiting the illumination to the part below the horizontal plane of the search light, two plug contacts in the casing of the search light, two flexible conductors from said plug contacts to lamp supporting member, a socket holder with contacts for said electriclamp, connections between said contacts and said lamp supporting member, and two socket holders provided in said plate. forming part of the member supporting the lamp and adapted to receive two spare lamps.

9. A search light particularly for automobiles comprising in combination, a casing, a cover hinged to the casing, and a hinged plate covering approximately the upper half of the casing and having a central depressed portion provided with an active lamp supporting means, and socket supports on the rear of said plate for spare lamps.

10. A search light particularly for automobiles comprising in combination, a casing, a cover hinged to the casing, a large reflector in the lower portion of the casing, a hinged plate covering the upper portion of the casin means on said plate for supporting an e ectric lamp, a small hinged reflector on said supporting means for said lamp engaging the upper edge of the large reflector, and a latch to hold the latter reflector in normal 1position.

In testimony w ereof I afix my signature.

STEPHEN GREBEL. 

